Bolton

Bolton's population grew between the last two censuses. At the same time there were changes in housing tenure, ethnicity and marriage.

The population reached nearly 280,000

In the decade leading up to the most recent census, the population of Bolton increased by 6.0%, from just over 261,000 to 277,000.

The addition of almost 16,000 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Bolton was home to, on average, 14 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was higher than the average across the North West

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the North West, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Bolton

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Bolton increased by one year, from 37 to 38 years.

This multi-cultural area had a slightly lower average age than the North West and became slightly younger than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The fall in age was because of an increase of just under 7,200 people between the ages of 40 and 49 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by about 4,000.

About 15% of people in Bolton are aged between 40 and 49 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, North West and Bolton by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Bolton

The percentage of Bolton residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability remained close to 89% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just over 1 in 25 (4.5%) reported being limited a lot in their day-to-day activities, compared with 3.8% in 2001. The percentage of Bolton residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 7.1% to 6.6%.

The proportion of people who aren't limited by a long-term health problem or disability fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (which remained close to 89%). Across England, the percentage remained close to 90%.

The proportion of people who aren't limited by a long-term health problem or disability was higher than across the North West

Percentage of usual residents that reported not being limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in Bolton that rented privately increased from 6.0% to 14% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just over one in five (20%) households lived in social housing, compared with 22% in 2001. The percentage of Bolton households that owned their home decreased from 69% to 64%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 8.5% in 2001 to 15% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.9% to 17%.

Private renting in Bolton increased by 7.7 percentage points

Percentage of households in Bolton, the North West and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in Bolton

The number of people in Bolton from the White ethnic groups remained close to just under 230,000 between the last two censuses. This represents a change from 89% to 82% of the local population.

The percentage decreased by more than the average across the North West (from 94% to 90%) and the average across England (from 91% to 85%).

The number of people in Bolton from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from just over 24,000 in 2001 to just under 39,000 in 2011 (from 9.3% to 14%). The number of residents from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from about 2,500 to just under 4,900 (from 1.0% to 1.8%).

Just under 4,700 people (0.6%) said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, up from about 1,600 in 2001 (1.7%).

The population from the White ethnic groups in Bolton decreased by 7.1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, North West and Bolton by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

More single people in Bolton

The percentage of single people in Bolton increased from 28% to 34% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just under one in two (47%) people aged 16 and over said they were married, compared with 51% in 2001. The percentage of adults in Bolton that had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner increased from 11% to 12%.

The proportion of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 30% in 2001 to 36% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 30% to 35%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership was lower than across the North West

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were single across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in Bolton

The number of people in Bolton that described themselves as Muslim increased from about 18,000 in 2001 to about 32,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 7.1% to 12% of the local population.

The percentage increased by more than the average across the North West (from 3.0% to 5.1%) and the average across England (from 3.2% to 5.2%).

The number of people in Bolton that described themselves as Christian decreased from about 190,000 in 2001 to just over 170,000 in 2011 (from 75% to 63%). The number of people who described themselves as having no religion increased from about 23,000 to just under 48,000 (from 8.8% to 17%).

Just under 16,000 people (7.3%) did not state their religion, down from about 19,000 in 2001 (5.7%).

The population who identified as Muslim in Bolton increased by 4.6 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, North West and Bolton by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Bolton residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 11% to 6.6% between the last two censuses.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just under 8 in 10 (79%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 67% in 2001. The percentage of Bolton residents that described their health as fair decreased from 22% to 14%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 11% in 2001 to 6.8% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Bolton decreased by 4.4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Bolton, the North West and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in Bolton working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 10% to 7.8% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just under 1 in 30 (2.9%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 1.6% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 11% in 2001 to 8.3% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 13% to 10%.

Long hour working in Bolton decreased by 2.4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Bolton, the North West and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in rate of unemployment

The percentage of Bolton residents that were unemployed increased from 3.5% to 4.9% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just over one in two (51%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 52% in 2001. The percentage of Bolton residents that were self-employed increased from 7.1% to 8.1%.

The proportion of unemployed people increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 3.6% in 2001 to 4.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.4% to 4.4%.

The rate of unemployment in Bolton increased by 1.5 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Bolton, the North West and England that said they were unemployed, March 2001 and March 2011

More people living alone

The percentage of households in Bolton, which comprised one person, increased from 31% to 32% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, about 1 in 10 (10%) households had an unmarried couple, compared with 8.5% in 2001. The percentage of households in Bolton which comprised a married couple (with or without children) decreased from 37% to 33%.

The proportion of one-person households increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 31% in 2001 to 32% in 2011). Across England, the percentage remained close to 30%.

The percentage of households with only one person was lower than across the North West

Percentage of households that comprised only one person across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011

Changes in family structure

The percentage of households in Bolton without children increased from 58% to 59% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just over 3 in 10 (31%) households had at least one dependent child, compared with 32% in 2001. The percentage of households in Bolton with only adult children living with their parents remained close to 10%.

The proportion of households without children increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 59% in 2001 to 61% in 2011). Across England, the percentage remained close to 61%.

The proportion of households without children was lower than across the North West

Percentage of households without children across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011

Change in unpaid care

The percentage of Bolton residents that provided between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 1.4% to 1.6% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.9%) reported providing at least 50 hours of unpaid care each week, compared with 2.4% in 2001.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 1.3% in 2001 to 1.6% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.1% to 1.4%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care in Bolton remained close to 1.6%

Percentage of usual residents in England, North West and Bolton by care, March 2001 and March 2011

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